ACLU Is Protective Agency

CIVIL RIGHTS FOR ALL

WITHOUT EXCEPTION

That the American Civil Liberties Union is a national organization designed "to protect the civil rights of all citizens without distinction" was indeed brought home by Ernest Besig, director of the Northern California chapter, at the December DOB public discussion meeting.

He cited many instances where the ACLU has defended cases involving the infringement of such civil rights as "free speech, freedom of the press, right to assemble" for religious organizations, homosexuals, racial groups, political enthusiasts and private citizens. And throughout he emphasized that the guarantees of the Constitution should be protected for all without distinction.

"It does not necessarily follow that we support the beliefs of all of our clients, but we do support their right to their beliefs," he pointed out.

The ACLU specializes in test cases; they have neither the funds nor the time to take all the cases that come to them for counsel. The organization is dependent upon membership dues and contributions to conduct the cases they do handle. There is no fee to the client. Annual membership is $5.00; subscriptions to the ACLU News are $1.50. The Northern California headquarters are located at 503 Market St., San Francisco.

It was fitting that this particular meeting was held at the time of the 166th anniversary of the final ratification of the Bill of Rights. As Mr. Besig pointed out, all too few of us are familiar with this document, and it is well that we from time to time assess the state of our constitutional liberties and rededicate their ideals.

NOTICE COMING MARCH 3, 1958

A new complete translation of the poetry and all of the fragments of poetry of Sappho. SAPPHO: A new translation by Mary Barnard. Paperback edition, $1.25. University of California Press, Berkeley 4, California.